Report for
Litcham Parish Annual Meeting held on 21st April 2008
The past year
has been an eventful one for the school. In September 2006 we became a
Specialist Language College. In January 2007 we received the news that
we had been successful in our submission for re-designation as a
Science College.
This was recognition of the very significant progress the school had
made over the past four years, in raising standards and levels of
achievement. With it, also, came confirmation that through the national
programme for High Performing Secondary Schools, the school would also
become a Specialist Sports College from 1st April 2007. Only a handful
of schools in England have three specialisms, but the real significance
of this is the opportunity it gives us to work with and support our
colleagues in the Litcham Cluster of schools. Whether it be through the
Science and
Maths Days for Year 5 and 6 pupils; expertise and resources to support
thedevelopment of modern foreign language teaching in the primary
schools or a greater range of sporting and PE experiences for primary
pupils, the specialisms are being used to benefit all the young people
in our community.
The summer term 2007 was a difficult period in the school’s life.
A fine teacher and much-respected colleague lost her fight with cancer
and, shortly afterwards, a student died suddenly and unexpectedly. This
hit very hard in a small community like ours, but it brought out a
determination to succeed and the summer’s GCSE results were among
the best ever recorded.
The September 2007 admission round was a very difficult one. Due to an
unusual bulge in the number of Year 6 children living in the catchment
area, there was great pressure on places. In the event, all catchment
area children gained a place, but a few with siblings at the school,
but living outside the area, were unsuccessful.
The school is full and over-subscribed. In September 2008, all Year 6
children living in the catchment area should have a place. However,
families moving into the area during the school year are finding that
we are full and are unable to take their
children.
November 2007 saw a full inspection by OfSTED and we were delighted to
be described as a ‘good school with many outstanding
features’. The full report can be accessed at:
http://www.ofsted.gov.uk.
Headteacher, Jeremy Nicholls and School Sports Co-ordinator, Mark
Barrett visited China, as members of a group from four Norfolk High
Schools and as guests of our partner school in Chongqing, south west
China. In July 2008 we hope to welcome teacher representatives from the
Chongqing Foreign Language School. Then in summer 2009, we are planning
for the visit of a group of Chinese students, followed
by a return visit of Litcham students to Chongqing. This is a very
exciting project which we hope will do much to prepare our students for
a rapidly changing world.
The last two weeks of the autumn term were particularly busy with the
Presentation of Certificates evening for last year’s leavers; a
Space Day for Year 8 students - part of our Science Specialism
programme; the film première of this year’s highly
successful musical ‘A. J. Raffles and the Museum of Mayhem’
and a Modern Languages Department trip to Cologne for 40 students of
German from Years 9, 10 and 11.
Despite the school’s success and the pleasantness of the
environment, recruitment of staff, especially teachers, is a real
problem. Property prices are a factor, but for younger staff, rural
life is clearly less attractive than living in the city.
The spring term is important for the expressive arts. This year’s
school play ‘Serious Undertakings’ played to packed houses
over three nights. There was also huge interest in the annual Music
Talent Show. We are fortunate to have so many
talented actors, musicians and support crew.
